Giving makes holidays brighterDuring the holidays, we sometimes lose focus on what is important. We flip through wish books, looking for the perfect gift. Some of us become preoccupied with what we want for the holidays and not what we can give others. We sit in our warm, well-lit houses and eat hot food, while the children next door might not have coats or presents or steady meals. People in our neighborhoods are homeless or sick or without any family. Sometimes hard work...

Invisible threatYou can't see it, smell it or taste it. Commonly referred to as a "silent killer," carbon monoxide is reportedly one of the most toxic substances you will come into contact with in daily life. Hundreds of people die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year when they come into contact with the toxic substance in their homes, work places, garages or vehicles. In addition to death, carbon monoxide can cause permanent neurological damage in the lo...

Flu season sets in valleyWith fall comes flu season - a torturous time of fever, aches and chills. Influenza, a contagious respiratory disease, is caused by a virus which infects many parts of the body, including the lungs. Someone who has it can spread the virus by sneezing, coughing or even talking. It can also be transmitted by direct contact. For healthy children and adults, influenza is typically a moderately severe illness. Most people recover from it within a w...

Irresponsible pet owners can blame themselvesRussellville City Council amended an ordinance this past month pertaining to fees charged by Animal Control at the city's animal shelter. The fees, which have been increased, apply to pets that have been impounded, are not current on their vaccinations and/or are not licensed through the city. The change becomes effective next Monday. A leading reason for the stiffer penalties is based on the fact there is a growing number of irresponsible pet...

Shop local to enhance communityWith the holiday season quickly approaching, shopping is most likely on the minds of many folks. Whether you are planning to prepare a scrumptious Thanksgiving feast, purchase presents for loved ones or contribute to charitable causes, consider spending your hard-earned dollars where it counts most by shopping locally. There are many benefits in keeping local dollars in your own community. First, shopping at home helps build a strong local eco...

Colors to marvel atFall in the Arkansas River Valley is a time of many colors. River Valley images of the changing of the season will be highlighted in Sunday's River Valley Life section in The Courier. Readers will find numerous photos from around the valley and a feature story focusing on what foliage seekers can expect this year. The River Valley is one of the most scenic areas in the entire state of Arkansas and during this time of year, our valley stands ou...

Parading in Russellville todayIn case you missed it, take a look at today's veteran feature on the front page. Five different Arkansas River Valley veterans from five different wars sat down with us to tell their respective experiences. We hope you enjoy their stories, because we sure enjoyed sharing them. Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day (Nov. 11), was the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918. Rejoicing around the world began on this day as weap...

Say 'no' to stinky roadway hazardIt took guts for Russellville police and firefighters, and highway workers to respond to a hazardous spill at the intersection of West Main Street, Parkway and Lake Front Drive late Tuesday night. Chicken guts, that is. It was fowl - and foul. The slime, the stench (and the reported lack of public outcry about such situations) was stunning. Although the incident probably doesn't seem that serious to many people, it had the potential for disast...

Youthful wisdomAn e-mail flowed into The Courier server last week carrying an air of certain purpose. We receive hundreds of e-mails and letters each week about story ideas and questions from readers. This one e-mail stood out. Ashlee Mabry, 15, of Russellville sent us an e-mail that not only shared a recent experience of hers but alluded to a solution to a problem she discovered. Ashlee said her youth group at church had been conducting door-to-door to surv...

Sales tax to be decided todayThe election today to decide whether or not Yell County will have a one-cent sales tax could determine the entire future of the county. If the voters of Yell County approve the sales tax, it would mean improved roads, courthouse facilities compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and many other improvements. Obviously, the upgrades to Yell County would be positive. The major question is, can we afford the one-cent sales tax? An...

Can't do enough for Veterans' DayA simple thank you doesn't seem to do it. Words cannot express how thankful the American people should be for our veterans from all wars. Could you leave your own family to fight for the collective good of a nation, even though dying, being maimed or changed forever was highly likely? Most of us wouldn't take that challenge. Could you enter a hostile environment and find resolve in the fact you were fighting while others remained at home? Once...

Things that make you laughOften times, what is true is also funny. Comedy finds us in many ways. The following Associated Press generated reports caught our eye as a possible opportunity to help our readers begin their weekend with a smile and a chuckle. n SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) - Kevin Morgan is no dummy - but he got in trouble for driving with one. This 28-year-old was caught taking advantage of the carpool lane which requires there to be at least two people in the ...

Good first half, but game not overWe played a quality first half, but don't go back on the field thinking we've won. Anything can happen, and we need to finish strong. This halftime pep talk refers to the game of giving. The River Valley United Way reached the halfway point of its 2006 fund-raising goal recently. This year's goal was $585,000 so we've got a ways to go. However, we can get it done. "The River Valley United Way is a local organization that raises money to help o...

Polarized wards or unified communityNot only has partisan politics been discussed among Russellville aldermen recently but in the same breath, council members have also discussed ward voting. In a ward-voting system, instead of the entire city voting on numerous council positions, only voters in a certain ward could vote for their respective representative. On the surface, the proposal makes sense, however, there are both pros and cons to a ward-voting system just like there are...

In the headlinesHot off the press. Read all about it. Supreme Court nominations, fuel costs and a possible pandemic continue to top the headlines of the nation's media outlets. President Bush's latest Supreme Court nominee, Samuel Alito, has begun his trip through the judicial gauntlet. Conservatives have already sung his praises, while some Democrats contemplate a possible filibuster. Reports flowing on the wire service Tuesday stated most judiciary committe...

Partisan politics even extends to Supreme CourtHarriet Miers' failed Supreme Court nomination is driving President Bush back to a tried-and-true formula for filling a high court vacancy: tapping a federal or state judge with a solid conservative paper trail. Whether or not Bush's next formula is the correct way to go is debatable. However, what we can learn from this is when we elect someone into office, we are indirectly voting on who will fill the seats of the United States Supreme Court...

What a weekendHow about those Russellville Lady Cyclones! Seventh-year head coach Cindy Jones and the girls volleyball team did what they needed to do during the regular season and garnered the fourth seed from the AAAAA West Conference to quality for the Class AAAAA state tournament at Cabot High School. Russellville's volleyball team not only knocked off the top seed from the AAAAA South (Benton) to open the state tournament Thursday. The Lady Cyclones ca...

Rosa Parks' influence is felt everywhereIn death, Rosa Parks is joining a select few, including presidents and war heroes, accorded a public viewing in the Capitol Rotunda of Washington D.C.. It's the place where, six years ago, President Clinton and congressional leaders lauded the former seamstress for a simple act of defiance that changed the course of race relations. That was the sort of influence Rosa Parks has on our nation. While race relations are far from perfect today, the...

Cut the partisan cordThe Russellville City Council would be well served to focus on the future for inspiration and cease grasping for ideas from the past. Local government has no place for partisan politics. Collectively, we need to end this tangent before it consumes us. Recent council discussions concerning partisan politics have overshadowed pressing issues our council should be focusing on. These partisan "what if" conversations make us wonder why aldermen are...

Love My Pet calendars selling like hotcakesThe Courier's 2006 Love My Pet Calendars are now on sale in our office at 201 W. 2nd St. The calendars make a great and unique gift idea for the holidays. They also serve as a fund-raiser for the Russellville Animal Shelter. To date, The Courier has raised about $1,600 for our local shelter. We aim to do even better than that, however, we need your help. A portion of proceeds from the sale of calendars will benefit the shelter. Someone on your...